6 Reasons to Move Your Workspace Outside
We spend most of our lives indoors. And the spaces we occupy have a profound psychological effect. They influence our mood, productivity, and even our health! From inducing warmth, elevating mood, and creating an efficient work environment.
Cramming people in office buildings started during the industrial revolution. Because people rushed to cities for jobs, they stuffed workers into tiny cubicles with harsh, fluorescent lighting. Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, things haven’t changed much. While many individuals transitioned to working from home during the pandemic, the majority don’t want to return to their dingy offices. But offices in the home have their fair share of problems; from distracting family members and annoying noises, to a messy desk, it’s a wonder we get any work done from home. Keep reading for 6 reasons to move your workspace outside!
1. Zero Distractions
Why were offices designed in the first place? To provide workers with a space physically made for focusing on work.
Workspaces should increase productivity and concentration, not create a vortex of distractions. Whether you have kids, pets, or a love for social media, you’re no stranger to distractions. While people have become multitasking pros thanks to the introduction of invasive technology, it’s just not practical jumping between your phone, meetings, work projects, and impromptu snacks. Maintaining your own separate workspace prevents distractions, keeping you goal-oriented.
Think about it… no ruckus from video games, rumbles from music, beeping from cars outside, or barking from your furry friends. Imagine the concentration you could muster from minimizing distractions by moving your workspace outside.
I’m sure you could use some quiet time too…
2. Separates Work & Home Life
Working from home inevitably blurs the line between your work and home life. When you’re juggling both lives on the clock一cue the dog walks and dentist visits一 you’re tempted to bring your work life into your home life. That means you’re dedicating less time to your loved ones. It means losing the chance to create genuine bonds, which is arguably the most important component of life. And when you are present, part of you is checked out, scrolling through emails and answering business calls.
If you separate these lives, you’re less likely to burn out. You’ll also experience more fulfillment from both your work and home lives because you’ll be giving both your undivided attention. And all that focus will lead to increased work output and lasting family memories. Being present, being mindful, is one of the key elements to fully enjoying life.
Separating both your work and home lives can also teach your kids about the importance of boundaries. Lead by example and move your workspace outside!
3. Gets You Into a Working Mode
Our brains develop unconscious associations wherever we go. When you’re home, your brain takes in your surroundings (knick-knacks, wall color, furniture, etc.), and forges an association of comfort and relaxation. But when you work from home, these built-up associations can lead to decreased productivity. Your mind tries to destress and calm down when it should be amping up.
By creating a dedicated workspace external to your home, you have an opportunity to surround yourself with things that inspire you. Whether that be plants, art, natural light, or nothing一the choice is yours. And your mind will associate productivity and concentration with this new space and decor.
The key is to create consistent messaging that your brain understands. When you walk into your separate workspace, your brain will recognize the environment. Immediately, the association will tell you it’s time to work. And when you leave, you can mentally return to your home life.
4. Improves Mental Health
A big bonus to moving your workspace outside is natural lighting. While you can decide which structure suits your yard best, you can also select one with maximum natural light.
Why is natural light so important? Because exposure to sunlight can boost your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a hormone that stabilizes mood and creates a feeling of calm and focus. What more could you want for a workspace?
But it gets better! Natural light has many other health benefits including lowering blood pressure, boosting sleep, and strengthening immunity. Simply, working in a space full of sunlight vastly improves mental health, which will only benefit your work.
Conversely, when you work from home in a dark office, you may experience lower levels of serotonin which drops your mood and increases your likelihood of depression. But lack of sunlight isn’t the only enemy.
Artificial lights can wreak havoc on your health. From strained eyes to headaches, it’s important to balance artificial lighting with natural lighting to prevent any health concerns. Blue lights, especially, can prevent restful sleep and block your brain from producing melatonin (the sleepy hormone). The solution? Moving your workspace outside and including maximum sun exposure!
5. Reduces Stress
When at work, your desk functions like an extension of your body. But is your desk helpful or holding you back?
Since mess = stress, disorganization can be agitating. That’s why people who work from home tend to experience more ‘desk stress.’ Since the lines between home and work blur, your desk becomes a chaotic heap of the two lives. Meeting notes mix with mortgage paperwork and your kids’ doodles, and wait… weren’t bills hiding under there?
Your desk is a visible manifestation of your work, so if it’s cluttered, it’s surely affecting your mindset. Besides the fact that a messy desk is less efficient, it deeply influences your mental energy. Don’t let a mess live rent-free on your desk—or in your mind. Anything you stare at for 8 hours a day should earn its place.
When you create a separate workspace, you give yourself a chance to curate objects that sustain you, not distract you. And with a distinct work desk, you’ll experience less stress and increased concentration. But where do you put that new office? Outside of course!
6. Make it Your Own
When you set yourself up with an outside workspace, you have the opportunity to add a touch of your personality. From decorations to wall color, the freedoms are limitless, unlike fluorescent, bare-boned offices!
Color psychology is well-known. Choosing the right colors for your workspace can have a profound impact on your mood… and even your productivity! Pick whichever colors compliment your personal and professional needs:
- White: Lightness, cleanliness, and neutrality
- Blue: Wellness, confidence, and integrity
- Green: Healing, restful, and safety
- Pink: Softness, kindness, and youth
- Red: Strength, excitement, and urgency
- Orange: Warmth, success, and sociability
- Brown: Comforting, grounding, and security
- Black & Gray: Creation, suppression, and realism (use only as accents)
If you want something more peaceful, try pastels. If you want to experiment, try out vivid colors, but remember, while energizing, they can also be overstimulating. Whichever you pick should emphasize your professional needs (for example, creativity for artists and healing for therapists).
How Can You Move Your Workspace Outside?
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Todd
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